Canes baseball looking good

The UM baseball team got together Wednesday afternoon following the first day of classes, and there's reason for Canes fans to start counting the days until the first pitch. Scott Maine, who was drafted in the 23rd round in June by the Colorado Rockies, returned for his junior season.

Maine, who finished 12-3 last year with a 4.57 ERA, now has a full season behind him and should only get better. This season, he should be one of the top pitchers in the country.

Fourteen Canes from the College World Series roster are back, including phenom second basesman Jemile Weeks, outfielder/designated hitter Dennis Raben and first baseman Yonder Alonso.

The class of 10 freshmen also include plenty of talent, such as third baseman Mark Sobolewski (was drafted in the 20th round by the Astros) of Sarasota and shortstop Ryan Jackson of Miami Florida Christian. New right-handed pitcher Kyle Snyder of Wellington High was drafted in the 10th round by the Boston Red Sox.

UM baseball, to me, is always a blast. And this year's team should be even more fun to watch than last year's, which really turned it up in the postseason.

On a football-related note: Kyle Wright has been named one of 22 players on the Manning Award Watch list. Florida's Chris Leak and FSU's Drew Weatherford also are on the list.